I know we've had these discussions many times before -- but I'm looking for guidance yet again.

Of course I've left the challenge until the last day. So when searching through my photos, I'm getting confused.

I still love the nature photos the best, so I started looking through those. Yet, again, I find myself thinking many are artistic, and then realizing that, no... I don't think they are.

Can a photo of a bug or a bird be artistic? If so, what makes it artistic?

The simple answer seemed to be beauty -- but that gives it an artistic air at first glance, but doesn't make it artistic, IMO. Then I thought details -- but again, that gives it a wow factor, because we usually don't get to see that very easily, but not artistic.

Is it a story? I adored this photo, but I think it was for the laugh, does it make it art?

These are two of my favorite photos art-wise:

One almost passed for art, one didn't.

So what do I look for when searching the archives? I think beauty, story, something that makes you wonder. I started thinking just go for blurry wildlife and I may get close, and that just seemed wrong. So that's why I started this.

So the question is: what do you look for? What do you have in mind when searching for your art?

Sorry I don't know the answer either but guess looking at the previous challenge may help in knowing what the voters have scored highest for art - not that this necessarily is any indication to be concerned about:)

Just go with the image you like. No way you can tell whether the viewer/voter will consider it art or not.
When you see the 4th place (see image), I don't consider it art. I think it's a great image, love it, but not in the ART category. And an image I consider to be art (see 2nd image) is only ending 29th.

4th place

29th place

To be honest, after 6 years DPC, I still find it hard to 'know' what the voters will consider DMC or not or will like or not, so at the end I only enter what I consider is suitable for the challenge and what I like.

Just don't think about how the photo will do and only think about how you feel about it, if you really love a picture and it moves you, then that's art for you.
I found this one very artistic: but that's me and someone else might say it's not art. YOU are the answer to art.

I'm not looking to find out what will do well, in this case I'm truly curious what YOU look for when searching for your own art entry. I know what I think is artistic, but I'm looking to expand my horizons each time.

I'm not looking to find out what will do well, in this case I'm truly curious what YOU look for when searching for your own art entry. I know what I think is artistic, but I'm looking to expand my horizons each time.

Sorry, yes I know you know. I was being lazy and responding in light of this and the other thread.

I'm not looking to find out what will do well, in this case I'm truly curious what YOU look for when searching for your own art entry. I know what I think is artistic, but I'm looking to expand my horizons each time.

Sorry, yes I know you know. I was being lazy and responding in light of this and the other thread.

I'm not looking to find out what will do well, in this case I'm truly curious what YOU look for when searching for your own art entry. I know what I think is artistic, but I'm looking to expand my horizons each time.

I donít look for anything or at least I convince my self that. I just choose a photo that feels good to me, maybe itís because of how I felt when I took the shot or maybe itís because of the particular state of mind Iím in at the moment Iím looking for it, who knows but I honestly hope Iím looking for it for its own sake and not as a means to anything else.

What do I look for? When I look thru my own work? I wait for the feeling of ahhhhhh! this is almost perfect!

What do I look for in the work of others? I want to sense the presence of the photographer, the conscious, decision-making, perfection-seeking, obsessed mind. A few DPC members do this for me, jmritz is one of them

Wendy you're definitely a storyteller. One thing may help in deciding what to go for--you could pick one of the art genres, like chiaroscuro

or abstract.

I love these pre-voting discussions. Wish we had more. FYI I am not entering this challenge, so my comments here should not be taken as me attempting to control or influence either the entrants or the voters to my expectations.

I wish we had more post-voting discussions, when we could talk about actual pictures and opinions rather than hypotheticals ...

Well, I just posted 3 from past challenges...you could express your own artistic opinions.

I can't define it any better than anyone else, but when I went browsing for a possible entry I looked for an image which could be interpreted as something more/other than a literal depiction of the subject, but without being wholly abstract or unrecognizable.

I love these pre-voting discussions. Wish we had more. FYI I am not entering this challenge, so my comments here should not be taken as me attempting to control or influence either the entrants or the voters to my expectations.

"I once had the nerve to ask Picasso the question "What is art?" He answered, "Art is a lie which makes us see the truth." (James Dickey)"
(And then : what is the truth?)

There are endless quips on this subject. Probably one of the most concise statement is:
Art? You just do it. (Martin Ritt)

Give me an image that will make me stop and pause. And think. And wonder and inspire.

Artistic? By no means this would be only an abstract, blurry, colorful or B&W image that ignores and despises technical aspects as a lot of people expect. And just "pretty". Or beautiful, whatever that means - or all of the above but mixed it just so that is beyond a comfortable, pleasant viewing.

I stalked Art* through the underbrush.
Once I heard her call
on the last day of fall,
but she was only a thrush afraid of the snow.
I followed her to a hill
above the Haverskill,
but she was only wind blowing low
through the pines.
I almost saw her face
near that quiet place,
but she was the sky's evening line,
and I had fallen far behind.